WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+19% vs national median134 grads tracked

Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services at College Of DuPage

Ranked 9th of 97 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$31,266
middle 50%: $23,492 – $39,505
Median · 5 years out
$42,446
middle 50%: $32,720 – $55,228
Median · 10 years out
$56,877
middle 50%: $39,242 – $95,189

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of College Of DuPage's certificate (under 1 year) program in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services earn a median $31,266 one year after graduating, rising to $56,877 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 19% above the national median of $35,528 for this field, ranking 9th of 97 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
9.7 yrs
≈ $11,720 total interest

Same major at other universities

Amarillo College
$49,731 · 5 yrs out
Dallas College
$48,158 · 5 yrs out
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
$46,702 · 5 yrs out
Saint Louis Community College
$44,939 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$43,463 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$42,505 · 5 yrs out
Saint Paul College - A Community & Technical College
$41,744 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$41,469 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 2
$40,922 · 5 yrs out
William Rainey Harper College
$40,883 · 5 yrs out
Bunker Hill Community College
$40,883 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
$40,820 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at College Of DuPage

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$105,399 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$105,399 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$96,190 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$87,221 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$86,855 · 5 yrs out
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection (Associate)
$86,086 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$81,833 · 5 yrs out
Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications (Certificate)
$81,462 · 5 yrs out
Geography and Cartography (Certificate)
$80,415 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$80,258 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Certificate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
Compare universities
Culinary Arts and Related Services
Compare universities
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other
Compare universities
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
Compare universities